Chinese Government agents and embassy officials recorded all of these events and. more importantly. who participated in them Clearly. these students are now marked. While they enjoy freedom and safety here in the United States. if they were forced to return home they would be subject to the same grave dangers and brutality as the student demonstrators in Beijing. President Bush wisely provided these Chinese nationals with a years extension on their visas. But. with the purges and sweeping arrests that continue to occur in China. this interim measure provides only temporary safety. I strongly believe that those in real danger should not have to return to the Peoples Republic of China. Unfortunately. most of the Chinese scholars who are in danger should they return to China are here on J1 visas. Under this visa. they must return home for the 2year home residency requirement. Even those that did not participate in rallies here in the United States or were not recorded by the Communists face uncertain consequences upon return to China simply because they were in the United States or took advantage of President Bushs visa extension. While these Chinese could apply for political asylum. the number of Chinese involved and the nature of their situation appear to warrant some other type of action. H.R. 2712 would waive the 2year home residency requirement associated with the J1 visa. It would allow Chinese nationals to go to a country other than the Peoples Republic of China without Jeopardizing their eligibility for another type of U.S. visa. It provides the protection these innocent students need. While I am concerned about setting a precedent by this legislation. I believe the nature of events in China and the fact that most of these students have J1 visas. makes this a special. separate situation. unlike others. I support H.R. 2712 and urge my colleagues to do so as well.
Keywords matched
visas visa